Settlement of forest encroachers in MP

Bhopal, Nov 4 (UNI) With a view to settle those who encroached upon forest land in Madhya Pradesh, the state government has initiated steps for fresh demarcation of forest and revenue land and to cancel ownership titles granted to forest encroachers after October 24, 1980.

The government also invited applications along with documentary evidence from forest dwellers till December 30 and issued directives for resolving the disputes between forest and revenue departments.

The district-level survey committees, constituted in January 2003, have been directed to submit the report to the government by February end next year.

Official sources said during joint demarcation, it was found that the Revenue department had issued pattas (ownership titles) assuming it as revenue land though the land actually came under forest boundary. Such titles issued after October 24, 1980 would be cancelled.

Applications will be invited from those left out in the survey and those earlier declared ineligible for ownership for preparing a list of those encroachers for settlement. Transparency would be maintained in redressal of such cases, the sources said.

UNI SP 1200